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2016 AMC 10B Problem 14

Problem 14 of 25IntermediateGeometryCounting & Probability

How many squares whose sides are parallel to the axes and whose vertices have coordinates that are integers lie entirely within the region bounded by the line y=πx,y=\pi x, the line y=0.1y=-0.1 and the line x=5.1?x=5.1?

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Solution

A square must lie above y=0.1y=-0.1, to the left of x=5.1x=5.1, and below y=πxy=\pi x. Since π\pi is a little more than 33, the lattice heights available at x=1,2,3,4x=1,2,3,4 are 3,6,9,123,6,9,12, and side lengths larger than 33 cannot fit. Count by side length using the top-left lattice point. For side length 11, there are 3+6+9+12=303+6+9+12=30 choices. For side length 22, there are 2+5+8=152+5+8=15 choices. For side length 33, there are 1+4=51+4=5 choices. The total is 30+15+5=5030+15+5=50. Thus, the correct answer is D.

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Concepts: lattice point · counting shapes in figures · casework

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.